Doogie Howser

The best I have ever felt in my life was when I was pregnant. I would have remained perpetually pregnant if their had been some way to do it ,but I was already a bit too old. I did everything an older woman should do taking all the tests, vitamins and went to the doctor regularly. I knew I was having a boy and nothing could have made me happier than that information. I spoke to him constantly, sang to him and told him all my secrets, as he was camping out in my tummy. I remember exactly when I realized very late in my pregnancy that I was uncomfortable for the first time. Playing miniature golf with Lumpy on vacation in Maine, my ribs felt as if I had a cramp and they were crossed like you could cross your fingers. It was so painful and I remember rubbing it and telling the child in my belly, that I needed him to curl up and get his big feet out of my ribcage. Almost twenty years later, seems that since delivery of my beautiful baby boy with the big feet, if I stand or walk for too long a period a pain, the same pain, takes my breath away. I have teased Stinky for years about those feet, now a size 15, telling him that I blame him for this as he was a preemie, the doctor telling me she believed he ran out of room and could wait no longer wait to be born.

I despise the medical world because I believe they are so full of themselves they can't see through the dollar signs to cure anything. Let's face it, how could there be childhood diabetes after all the years, and all the money, donated for a cure? Now, I don't know what you call the opposite of a hypochondriac, but I am one. I have a couple medical issues that I need to pay attention to and I do because I am Stinky's Mom and I will not allow myself to stroke out until he is able to handle life on his own. Most of the other stuff, I ignore.

Tonight I needed to go see Doogie Howser. He's the kid that is now my family practitioner. It took years, but I finally found one of those medical people I can believe in. He almost as cynical as I am and I love his dry sense of humor. I almost always enjoy his company as long as he is willing to ignore asking about the kidney and heart issues. We talk blood pressure only and all the other stuff his left to other people. Tonight, knowing it is probably the last time I will see him, I questioned this rib pain. I told him the history along with the teasing the boy has endured over the years. Turns out, I might be right. I diagnosed myself twenty years ago and have been living with a rib bruise that is unable to heal itself because we use our ribs so often during a day, every day. He gave me a solution and waved me off, wishing me a good life.

You're a good man Doogie. I really do value you. Too bad I gotta go.